The Eastern Conference Finals started Sunday night with Miami and Chicago battling in a tightly contested defensive battle.
Dallas and Oklahoma City will kick off their Western Conference finals Tuesday night.
And for whatever reason, something seems to be missing.
Maybe it’s merely a changing of the guard.
But for only the second time since 1999, the conference finals won’t be including either the Spurs, the Los Angeles Lakers or the Boston Celtics.
We’re being treated to new teams and new stars. Derrick Rose and Kevin Durant obviously are two of the most important pieces in the future of the NBA. “The Heatles” command attention after their celebrated grouping over the season.
But without Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett and their iconic teams these playoff series appear to be a little stale from those in the past.
It will be interesting to watch how the television ratings play out for the remaining games.
Is Spurs Nation making these upcoming games appointment television over the next several weeks?
Or is it reacting with a collective yawn without their favorite heroes and villains playing in the upcoming games that will culminate the NBA season?